I first learned of Rosslyn Chapel through the Knights Templar. You know? Those badass knights that protected all things holy. Well, until Friday the 13th rolled around and the Pope and King of France decided to have them burned at the stake. Yeah, those guys. I won’t wander down the severely twisted path that may or may not connect the Chapel and Knights, but if you’re curious and like history, (or perhaps a conspiracy theory or two) then you should definitely check it out! It is well worth the mystery and possibilities.
The beauty of Rosslyn Chapel is undeniable. The masonry inside is remarkable and rivals any art you will find in a fancy museum. I was disappointed that I couldn’t take photos of its interior, but I can understand the reasons. After all, it is a place of worship, past and present, and you should respect that. There were parishioners there and one caught my attention in particular. I have named them Sinclair in honor of the chapels founders and owners. They sat relaxed and quite lazily on the pew, watching the crowd and mingling with others. Some smiled at them, some pointed and chuckled; but Sinclair just sat there, purring and watching the humans scurry around this church that it seemed to call home.
While the holy cat was a high point of my visit, I went to see the corn. Yes, you heard me right…corn. It might seem random and a little silly, but I promise it’s not. Along the wall, etched in stone, are several ears of corn. What’s so special about the corn? Plenty! Indian corn, or maize, is not native to Scotland. So what is it doing showing up in stone carvings at this chapel? And how on Earth did it show up there, years before Columbus supposedly discovered America? This is the part when mystery and theories come into play. I have my conclusions, but I’ll let you draw your own.
As I mentioned, the stone work is amazing and the windows are gorgeous too. There is so much to see, that it seems you will never notice it all. There are still things that, as I’m researching, I never even noticed. Small, intricate details that your eyes pass over because they are drawn to larger pieces of work like The Apprentice Pillar. As the story goes, the master mason (who was away researching) didn’t think his apprentice was talented enough to carve a worthy pillar. When he returned and saw the pillar had already been completed, he flew into a fit of jealousy and grabbed his mallet. He then struck the apprentice over the head, killing him. The story of the doomed apprentice, the amazing stonework he produced, and the theories of what may or may not be inside of the pillar, only add to the mystery of the chapel.
While I don’t really do any research for trips myself (I find more fun in winging it) I think Rosslyn Chapel deserves it. Familiarize yourself with a small dose of its past. Personally it made the visit mean even more. I felt a little honored that I was being allowed to walk in a place where princes, earls, and barons lay peacefully. And maybe for that one hour of my time, I got let in on all the secrets that surround this enduring and endearing piece of history.